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This has happened to me twice now Hard sell at the gym
HarrietHomeowner   Intermediate Member since 1/13/10 Posts: 657	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/30/12 10:49 AM A few years ago I joined a gym. My interest was mainly in moving more to counteract the effects of sitting at a desk all day, and maybe secondarily to build strength and tone my muscles. Weight loss was not a goal -- I have been about the same weight my entire adult life, and my health is good; no doctor has ever told me to lose weight. My frame is on the larger end (long legs, hands, feet), and yes, I have some midsection pudge but not too bad. I am not a couch potato -- I don't even watch TV. I walk a couple of miles most days. I figure I'm doing pretty well for being a postmenopausal woman in her 50s. So I went in there to get the "free evaluation" where they try to sell you stuff, and the guy looked shocked when I said I wasn't interested in losing weight. I can't remember exactly what he said, but I think he didn't know what to say! Probably 99.9% of the people who go in there have losing weight as their main goal. (I did not sign up for the personal training.) Yesterday, I was passing by another gym that I've considered switching to because it's nicer and more convenient, but it costs twice as much as the other one. A young guy was outside shilling for new clients, and when I stopped and expressed interest he dragged me inside and gave me a tour. Then we sat down for the hard sell, and once again, I said I wasn't interested in losing weight, and he just stared at me and said, "Why not?" He even asked me what my doctor said about that. (I did not sign up.) What's up with this? Is it a thing to make people feel bad about themselves so they'll spend money trying to fix it? If so, it has the opposite effect on me. I think it could really mess with someone's self-esteem. It pinged mine a bit.
Michelle T Intermediate BC CANADA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 4176	Login to reply to this post In reply to HarrietHomeowner << Like this post Date: 5/30/12 11:30 AM Wow talk about hard sell. Good for you for sticking up for yourself and your body. ------ Proud parent of a Dwight International School Honour Roll Student
RoseFromThule Advanced Beginner FRANCE Member since 3/3/10 Posts: 390	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 5/30/12 11:34 AM Because low self-esteem makes people buy or, in this case, renew their gym subscription again and again. Losing weight is not a harmless process. We are talking about chunks of our own bodies. We only have one ! For someone who has already good food and exercise habits, it's a dangerous play with your metabolism and the whole engine, that can backfire big time. ------ Meet me at rosemiracles.wordpress.com
HarrietHomeowner   Intermediate Member since 1/13/10 Posts: 657	Login to reply to this post In reply to RoseFromThule << Like this post Date: 5/30/12 11:51 AM Quote: RoseFromThule Because low self-esteem makes people buy or, in this case, renew their gym subscription again and again. Losing weight is not a harmless process. We are talking about chunks of our own bodies. We only have one ! For someone who has already good food and exercise habits, it's a dangerous play with your metabolism and the whole engine, that can backfire big time. Yes, exactly! That's a good way of putting it.
ryan's mom PA USA Member since 11/30/04 Posts: 4370	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/30/12 12:08 PM Probably because losing weight is the main reason why people join a gym to begin with, and they're trying to capitalize on that fact. It's understandable that it would be they're best marketing gimmick, but I'm surprised they don't have plan B and C up their sleeves because not everyone wants to lose weight. ------ Big 4 Pattern size 12, RTW bottom: 6, RTW jacket 8, RTW top (no size fits me well!) Measurements: 34 HB/36 FB (34C bra)/27.5/36 (and working hard to keep it that way.) Machines: Sewing (Janome Memory Craft 3000 and Kenmore 158 Series machine), Serger (Babylock Imagine), Embroidery (Janome 300E) If you think your sewing is better than everyone else's around here, get out of my way b****. I hate sewing snobs. My blog: www.phatchickdesigns.blogspot.com
Re Becca   Intermediate TX USA Member since 9/12/05 Posts: 2134	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 5/30/12 1:34 PM I have the same situation. Just realize that these personal trainers (many in their 20s and 30s) have made a career out of their low body fat and see it as their purpose in life to brow beat everyone else on the planet into joining them in the obsession. Just take their advise in context and if it turns you off, leave and take your money with you. I really don't care to be a size 8 anymore either, I'm over forty, I've earned my love handles. But... when I don't exercise, my blood pressure starts to creep up. My nurse practitioner suggested that instead of beating myself up at the gym 3 or 4 times a week I get my hiney out of my office chair every 2 hours and do something to elevate my heart rate for at least a couple of minutes. I started climbing stairs for 5 minutes 3 or 4 times a day and my pressure dropped 30 points in 3 months. I was also able to eliminate the afternoon cup of coffee and still be productive when everyone around me wanted to nap. ------ http://beccabeckstuff.blogspot.com/ Damn the muslin, full speed ahead!
Mufffet   Intermediate VT USA Member since 8/14/05 Posts: 8910	Login to reply to this post In reply to Re Becca << Like this post Date: 5/30/12 1:55 PM Quote: I get my hiney out of my office chair every 2 hours and do something to elevate my heart rate for at least a couple of minutes. I started climbing stairs for 5 minutes 3 or 4 times a day and my pressure dropped 30 points in 3 months. I was also able to eliminate the afternoon cup of coffee and still be productive when everyone around me wanted to nap. WOW...now that is really helpful. I have the same situation - sit all day at work, and have a borderline high BP - going to try your method and hope it doesn't kill the knees. HAhahhaa...really - this is so sensible. THANK YOU! ------ "Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." --Dalai Lama I have sewing machines
stirwatersblue Intermediate KS USA Member since 12/13/08 Posts: 2468	Login to reply to this post 2 members like this. Date: 5/30/12 2:02 PM I honestly think it's just that they're sales people, and they're only trained to make sales, and have no idea what to do when somebody goes off script. I don't think it has anything to do with targeting low self esteem, etc. You can flummox ANYONE in sales by acting against type. The really good salespeople (the ones who will make a career out of it and do very well) are able to adapt. ------ ~Gem in the prairie
Coconuts   Intermediate MI USA Member since 12/2/09 Posts: 1100	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/30/12 2:06 PM You know the saying "You can never be too rich or too thin"? I think that's in play here.
HarrietHomeowner   Intermediate Member since 1/13/10 Posts: 657	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/30/12 2:12 PM I've never been a size 8! It just isn't in my genetic makeup. Size 16 or 18 has always been about right -- and I don't think of that as being fat (for me, at least). I was shocked when I got out in the big world and discovered that that was considered huge. It was slim in our family. Blood pressure -- yeah, exercise helps, but you don't need that much to make a difference.

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